Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Robert Briese: Fixed Time/Scope Projects and The Pitfalls of Individual PO Goals Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Robert discusses the challenges of supporting teams tasked with building an ecommerce platform. The teams were given a limited time, and a fixed scope to deliver! Each team had its own Product Owner (PO), leading to conflicting goals and self-destructive patterns. The looming deadline for a major customer event added pressure. Robert suggests practical tips, including creating a shared understanding above team and product management levels, aligning POs on a shared backlog, establishing shared priorities, utilizing user story mapping, and implementing the Chief Product Owner pattern.   Featured Book of the Week: "Large-Scale Scrum" by Vodde and Larman In this episode, Robert recommends "Large-Scale Scrum" by Vodde and Larman fo

Robert Briese: Agile Retrospectives Without Blame, The Importance of The Retrospective Prime Directive Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode with Robert, we talk about what we need to consider when introducing Scrum in support organizations, navigating heated retrospective discussions, and emphasizing the use of the prime directive. Robert highlights the importance of avoiding blame and instead fostering an environment of continuous improvement. Norm Kerth’s retrospective prime directive serves as a tool to steer conversations away from finger-pointing, encouraging teams to address challenging issues constructively. The retrospective prime directive reads: “Regardless of what we discover, we understand and truly believe that everyone did the best job they could, given what they knew at the time, their skills and abilities, the resources available, and

Thorben Pantring: The Micro-Manager PO, And The Impact It Has On Agile Teams Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Empowering Teams, The Art of Servant Leadership in Product Ownership A greatProduct Owner, as described by Thorben, is an outward-facing individual who actively engages with customers, bringing their challenges to the team for collaborative problem-solving. This PO allows the team autonomy, offering ideas without being directive, fostering a collaborative atmosphere in refinement sessions. Engaged in large-scale adoption, this PO excelled as a master collaborator and embraced the servant leadership role. Thorben emphasizes the development team's centrality in software, debunking the notion of working for the team. This Product Owner embodied customer focus, collaboration, and servant leadership. The Bad Product Owner: The Mic

Thorben Pantring: The Three Dimensions Of Scrum Master Success, Team, Collaboration, and Organization Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Thorben outlines success for Scrum Masters in three dimensions: team, collaboration, and organization. Early in the Scrum journey, focusing on the team is vital, emphasizing self-management and shared responsibility. The sprint goal emerges as a powerful tool for team focus. Collaboration between teams is crucial, as he mentions on this week’s Monday episode. For organizational success, Thorben references the sprint review bazaar episode (Wednesday), emphasizing that success encompasses the entire department's ability to deliver value, narrating an illustrative story of a team focusing on code merging instead of value creation. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The 5 Why’s Retrospective Thorben's favored retrospecti

Thorben Pantring: A Stakeholder Engagement Revolution With A Review Bazaar, An Agile Change Story Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Thorben discusses a change management challenge involving scheduling multiple sprint reviews for a scaling development effort. Attempting to consolidate reviews into one meeting resulted in decreased stakeholder participation and insufficient feedback. Consulting with Konstantin Ribel (who’s been a guest on the podcast), they conducted some experiments, seeking volunteers via internal Slack. Teams were named for specificity, and experiment learnings were documented, evolving into a company-wide change approach. Over time, the "science fair" of experiments expanded to larger audiences, employing demo environments instead of presentations. The result: a successful review bazaar with up to 100 stakeholders, a vast improvement from thei

Thorben Pantring: The Team That Learned How To Collaborate, and Avoid the “It’s Not My Job” Anti-Pattern Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In a revealing episode, Thorben shares lessons from a team in trouble. The team members worked in isolation, often saying "It's not my job" and addressing each other by their roles, not by their names. Thorben tried 2 experiments to help the team: a Work in Progress limit of 1 to foster collaboration and a workshop on the "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" Model (inspired by the book by Lencioni) highlighting the need for commitment and accountability. Emphasizing a shared sprint goal, Thorben recommends assessing progress collectively. Eventually, a cultural shift occurred—team members adopted the motto "it's our job," fostering collaboration and breaking down role-based barriers. Featured Book of the Week: "Large Scale Sc

Thorben Pantring: Surviving the Scrum Scaling Chaos, Managing a 20-25 Member Team Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Thorben reflects on a team that had reached a breaking point when it grew to 20+ members. Faced with the overwhelming workload for the Product Owner and Scrum Master, Thorben and his colleagues divided the team into three, only to realize there was no support available. Thorben suggests a Scrum of Scrums for POs and emphasizes the complexity of scaling Scrum. To address the chaos, they divided the product into customer-focused areas and created a single Scrum team for each. Embracing large-scale Scrum, Thorben advises training leadership and using systems thinking to manage multiple teams. The journey involved starting small and incrementally adding teams to the system. In this episode, we refer to the podcast episodes with Konst

Jean Coetzee: Breaking Free from the Proxy Trap And Reclaiming the Essence of the Product Owner Role Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Breaking Free from the Proxy Trap And Reclaiming the Essence of the Product Owner Role In this episode, Jean addresses some anti-patterns in the role of a Product Owner, with the most detrimental being when they become mere proxies for business owners or sponsors. He laments the recent disregard for the essence of the PO role, emphasizing that it should not serve as a mere intermediary. When POs are placed in proxy positions, they are set up for failure, relegated to the role of translators rather than empowered owners. Jean advocates for a reevaluation of the PO role to ensure they have the autonomy and authority necessary for success. The Bad Product Owner: Empowering Teams, Lessons from an Exception

Jean Coetzee: Purpose-Driven Success, Discovering A Scrum Master’s Unique Path Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Jean explores the profound connection between success and personal purpose for Scrum Masters. He prompts reflection on whether one's sense of accomplishment is derived from their own purpose or external influences. Jean emphasizes that success is subjective and may not align with conventional notions. He offers a tip to disconnect from external influences and reconnect with one's purpose, akin to a metaphorical "fasting." By going into nature and seeking solitude, individuals can discover a deeper sense of purpose, ultimately redefining their own path to success in Scrum Mastery. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Beyond Retrospectives. The Futurespectives, A Forward-Thinking Retrospective Format In this episode, Jean advo

Jean Coetzee: Reimagining Leadership, A Crucial Element in Agile Transformations Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Jean delves into the critical role of change in Agile adoption and practice. He emphasizes that "change" better encapsulates Agile's essence, as opposed to its sometimes negative connotations. He explores the challenges faced by Scrum Masters when guiding teams through the change process. Jean advises embracing the discomfort of uncertainty and highlights the importance of finding a change role model within the organization. He stresses that the true challenge lies in the "being" part of change, not just the "doing," and advocates for a reimagined approach to leadership in order to navigate future transformations effectively.   [IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework tha

Jean Coetzee: From Obsession to Ownership, Avoiding the Deadline Trap in Agile Teams Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Jean recounts a cautionary tale of a team with an unhealthy obsession with meeting deadlines. The team's relentless pursuit led to a sense of loss of control and disconnection from the broader reality, paralleling themes from "The Matrix." Jean emphasizes the importance of reclaiming control over one's time and lives, and urges listeners to reflect on what makes a high-performing team member. He underscores that meeting deadlines should not be the sole purpose of a team, and that true ownership lies in a more holistic approach to achieving success. Featured Book of the Week: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink In this segment, Jean discusses the profound impact of Jocko Willink's book, "Extreme Ownership," on his journey a

Jean Coetzee: Unpacking Ownership, Accountability, and Responsibility in Scrum Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Jean shares a pivotal moment in his role as a Scrum Master with a newly formed team. With limited experience in Scrum, the team struggled to grasp the concepts of ownership, accountability, and responsibility. Jean recognized the need for experimentation and introduced the idea of pushing a car from point A to B, emphasizing that the task was about getting the car to its destination, not just pushing it. Through this analogy and patient guidance, Jean successfully shifted the team's focus from tasks to delivering true value in their Agile practices.   [IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will

Annu Paganus: How to Recognize and Address Product Owner Accountability Issues Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Recognizing and Addressing PO Accountability Issues Annu highlights several Product Owner (PO) anti-patterns, including lack of accountability and detachment from the team's efforts. She shares a warning about POs who take undue credit for the team's work, undermining motivation. Annu advises clarifying the servant leader role, setting clear expectations, and providing subtle suggestions for improvement. She emphasizes modeling the desired behavior and delineating PO responsibilities clearly. By addressing these anti-patterns, teams can foster a more productive and collaborative environment with their Product Owners. The Bad Product Owner: Feedback-Driven Excellence In Product Owners Annu defines a great Product Owner as

Annu Paganus: Transparency and Collaboration, Critical Aspects Of Scrum Master Success Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Annu reflects on the various facets contributing to a Scrum Master's sense of accomplishment. She emphasizes the importance of increased transparency in team operations, noting that it requires conscious effort. Annu also stresses the need for fostering collaboration in agile teams, as some may naturally gravitate towards independent work. Monitoring and addressing collaboration pain points is key. Additionally, she considers the ability to step back as an indicator of success in enabling the team's self-organization and autonomy. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Efficient Reflections, The Mad/Sad/Glad With A Twist Annu discusses her preferred retrospective format, conducted through an online shared whiteboard tool. The tool enab

Annu Paganus: Creating Harmony in Cross-Functional Teams, The Story Of An Agile Transformation Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, we hear the story of a significant agile transformation. The initiative focused on forming cross-functional teams, combining diverse skill sets. While there was initial excitement, the teams soon realized the need for better understanding of each other's roles. Discussions and clarifications were crucial in aligning expectations. Annu emphasizes the importance of agreeing on work processes and communication methods. She highlights an anti-pattern of business stakeholders isolating themselves until they have clear requirements. Annu provides practical tips, including readiness to learn and collaborate, and prioritizing information gathering before diving into tasks.   [IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change c

Annu Paganus: Short-Term Thinking, Long-Term Consequences, How Agile Teams Create Their Own Problems Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Annu shares the story of a team that delayed documentation and planning because they expected that the system they were maintaining would eventually be replaced by a new system. However, while she was away on a long leave, the system change did not happen. The team's mindset of impending change led to neglecting long-term considerations, impeding progress. Annu advises teams to scrutinize the narratives they tell themselves about their work and to understand their origins. She stresses the importance of focusing on the present and evolving their work methods based on the current situation. Featured Book of the Week: Keskusteluälykkyys by Helena Åhman Annu shares her passion for personal development and its impact on her profes

Annu Paganus: Navigating Complex Collaborations, And Strategies for Handling Difficult PO Dynamics Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Annu recounts a challenging situation where a new Product Owner, previously a manager, struggled to adapt to the role. The team sought more support, leading to organizational discussions on prioritization. Annu, responsible for addressing the issue, found that the conversation turned personal. She advises involving a third party for mediation and emphasizes improving conversational skills. The experience impacted her relationship with the PO, who eventually transitioned to a different role. Annu underscores the importance of self-awareness and offers tips for handling conflicts, including managing cortisol levels and referencing resources like Nonviolent Communication and the book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Sta

ONUS: Rethinking Agile Roles and Structures, With Craig Smith and Michael Huynh   In this episode, we kick things off by revisiting a captivating talk delivered by Michael and Craig at the Agile Online Summit 2023. The duo urged us to reevaluate the roles of the Scrum Master and Product Owner, and even hinted at potential shifts within Agile organizations. This discussion sparked a larger contemplation in my mind, extending beyond the core arguments presented by Michael and Craig. I took to Twitter to ponder the possibility of Agile serving as a foundational change in how we perceive organizational structures and leadership, leading to a potential revolution. What might this mean for you and your organization? Rethinking Agile Roles Before delving into what the future might hold for Agile practitioners, we asked Craig and Michael to provide a concise summary of their main points from the talk. They urged us to go beyond following “agile dogma” Questioning the purpose of Scrum Master and Produ

Armin Mandara: When Product Owners Multiply, Making Decisions in a Maze of Stakeholders Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Empowering Teams, A Key PO Skill Armin discusses the role of a great Product Owner (PO) in fostering team success. Drawing from an experience with a mixed team of internal and client-side members, he highlights the importance of clear communication and decision-making abilities in a client-driven setup. A standout PO, in his view, comprehends their role and limitations, excelling in making timely decisions and maintaining a pragmatic approach, even in challenging situations. They actively engage in discussions, emphasizing necessary trade-offs while demonstrating a keen awareness of the team's needs. The Bad Product Owner: When POs Multiply, Making Decisions in a Maze of Stakeholders Armin shares his experience i

Armin Mandara: Thriving Teams and Joyful Work, Armin’s Vision of Scrum Master Success Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Armin reflects on the essence of success for Scrum Masters, emphasizing the delivery of high-performing teams and consistent, valuable software. He emphasizes the importance of joy and camaraderie within the team, highlighting laughter and open communication as key indicators. Armin stresses the value of fun in facilitating difficult conversations. Success, in his view, also hinges on the team's ability to openly discuss problems.  In this episode, wer refer to the episode about a team that got into trouble: “When Harmony Hinders Progress, Learning to Trigger Difficult Conversations”. [LINK] Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Fostering Open Conversations with Simple Retrospective Techniques and Exercises Armin likes to use the fra